The use of generative AI in the workplace has been a focus of the field for quite some time now. Last week, two papers were accepted for publication in international journals.

The study by Didem Sedefoglu-Ulucak and her co-authors examines how people in leadership positions might use AI-generated content in the future when communicating with employees. The findings show that individuals in leadership roles accept feedback regarding empathy equally from both AI and human providers and revise email messages accordingly.

Why people use generative AI at work is the focus of the second article by Ohly and her colleagues. Here, too, social purposes of use emerge as relevant—alongside efficiency in task completion and recreational use.

Publications

Sedefoglu-Ulucak, D., Ohly, S., & Schmelz, J. (2026). Empathy in leadership communication: Experimental evidence from two vignette studies on AI’s role in message improvement and observers’ perceptions.Computers in Human Behavior, 109096.

Ohly, S., Goldschmitt, M., Nesher-Shoshan, H., Bolschakow, X., Neufeld, K., & Rigotti, T. (2026). Why Humans Use GenAI at Work (WHAI-w): Scale Development and Validation of a Needs-Based Measure.Technology, Mind and Behavior.